Example
“After losing its main investor, the company was out of the running for the contract.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
go downhill
Neutral · CEFR B1
to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance
miss the boat
Informal · CEFR B1
To lose a chance to do something by being too slow or late.
back to square one
Neutral · CEFR B2
to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed
back to the drawing board
Neutral · CEFR B2
to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed
barking up the wrong tree
Informal · CEFR B2
To pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or action.
below par
Neutral · CEFR B2
worse than the normal or expected standard
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.